I lay dormant on the rough, sweaty canvas. I could feel hot blood stream down my upper lip to pool next to my slack jaw. My saliva-coated mouth piece skewed half out of my mouth. I could hear my corner men miles above me, trying to coax me to stand up. My eyes are open, but I cannot see - I cannot move.
Over the course of my post high school education, I have seen teachers get an increasingly large amount of weight put on their shoulders in the form of more students in their classes and a curriculum that gets broader and broader as years go by. Some instructors I know, including my brother, have to work part time at multiple schools or as substitutes because no one wants to hire another full time teacher.
"I guess this opportunity, to learn. I wasn't always aware that it was available." "I'm most thankful for the earth and the resources that it provides for us, but it's kind of weird because I think we could give the earth so much more." "I am most thankful for compassion … that compassion exists.